Efficacy of intralesional immunotherapy with measles, mumps and rubella virus vaccine for the treatment of warts

Thirth Kumar Hemmandanahalli Venkataramanappa; Manjunath Hulmani; Divya Hariharapura Swamy; Akhila Panamukkath Anilkumar

doi:10.18203/issn.2455-4529.IntJResDermatol20251031

Authors

Thirth Kumar Hemmandanahalli Venkataramanappa Department of Dermatology, SS Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Davangree, Karnataka, India
Manjunath Hulmani Department of Dermatology, SS Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Davangree, Karnataka, India
Divya Hariharapura Swamy Department of Dermatology, SS Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Davangree, Karnataka, India
Akhila Panamukkath Anilkumar Department of Dermatology, SS Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Davangree, Karnataka, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/issn.2455-4529.IntJResDermatol20251031

Keywords:

Warts, Human papillomavirus, MMR vaccine, Intralesional immunotherapy, Wart treatment, Immunotherapy

Abstract

Background: The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the cause of warts, which are benign epithelial proliferations. Traditional therapies, such as salicylic acid and cryotherapy, frequently have poor results and a high rate of recurrence. A viable substitute is intralesional immunotherapy using the MMR vaccine, which boosts the host immune system to eradicate HPV-infected cells. The purpose of this study was to assess the intralesional MMR vaccine's effectiveness and safety in treating warts.

Methods: Fifty-two patients with warts participated in a randomized clinical trial. Five intralesional MMR vaccination sessions were given to the participants at two-week intervals. At baseline and following five sessions, wart size and resolution were measured. Throughout the course of the study, adverse effects were observed.

Results: After five sessions, 73.1% of patients had completely cleared their warts. There were no notable systemic side effects, and the most frequently reported adverse effect was mild erythema at the injection site.

Conclusions: The intralesional MMR vaccine is a safe and efficient way to treat warts. It is less expensive than traditional treatments and has a lower chance of recurrence. To verify its long-term effectiveness, more research with bigger sample sizes and longer follow-up times is required.

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